THE BLACK ARCHIVES
History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc.
Board of Directors March 4, 2010
Gwendolyn H. Welters
Chair The Honorable Commissioner
Richard P. Dunn, II
3500 Pan American Drive
Garth C. Reeves Miami, FL 33133
Vice Chair
Dear Commissioner Dunn,
Steven J. Henriquez, CPA A disturbing tendency has come to the attention of The Black Archives, Overtown
Treasurer community stakeholders and many other concerned citizens. There is a repeated offense
being perpetuated against a once vibrant community which has done so much for the
establishment of the city. We have been made aware of several impending demolitions of
Ruth Clyne buildings that are historic and significant to telling the story about the history of Overtown.
Considering the fact that Overtown is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Miami and that the
people of the neighborhood were instrumental in the incorporation of the City of Miami as
Dorothy Jenkins Fields, Ph.D. one of the oldest municipalities in Miami Dade County, the neighborhood has been and is
being treated unjustly in terms of its cultural integrity. Northwest Second Avenue from Fifth
Street to Eleventh Street, at one time represented what was known as “Little Broadway” for
Clarence E. Smith, MD Miami’s black residents, tourist, and national icons at its’ peak in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s.
For blacks in Miami, Overtown was their Downtown due to written laws and social practices
that limited persons of color from equal citizenship during turbulent times in United States
Founder History. Since the construction of the North South Expressway (I-95) and the passing of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, the area has seen a significant decline in the middle class and
Dorothy Jenkins Fields, Ph.D. upper class population. Overtown has also been the victim of an unbalanced economic
support system for many years.
Executive Director In the 1980’s, scholars like Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields led the charge to preserve what was
once a vibrant corridor in the black community and pressed to retain what could be presumed
Timothy A. Barber as potential historic sites at the time. Through this process, several sites were placed on the
National Register of Historic Places. Some sites stand today and some became the victim of
the demolition by neglect process. Overtown is unique in a number of ways, while most
places have to create a sense of place by imposing a historical/socio-cultural context,
Overtown is an authentic historical experience. Today, when I look at the second avenue
corridor, many times I attempt to vision what once existed, as each day passes, I am finding
it more and more difficult to imagine how successful this area once was. The current
proposed demolitions further perpetuate the loss to the cultural and historical heritage of this
community. What will we tell our children? What do we have to point to and to show what
once was? In order for the area to be progressive, it is important that we save as many
structures as we can. Each demolition of structures that have been ordered over the years is
like a pencil erasing the history of a people who built Miami in the early 1900’s. The loss of
these structures without putting a plan of action for their revitalization, restoration, or a plan
for rebuilding them is not a feasible or a respectable resolve.
What makes these structures historic is the fact that they represent the last remaining
remnants of what Second Avenue was. While other neighborhoods are allowed to build off
of its historic nature and offer house and neighborhood tours, as well as the opportunity to
point to their past by hand, Overtown has only been giving the finger. Its’ first, second, and
even third generation residents who experienced Overtown in its prime by firsthand accounts
or individuals who grew up with the oral and physical knowledge of the area passed down
like modern day griots have not been afforded the opportunity to take pride in what their
ancestors of the City of Miami was able to accomplish.
5400 N.W. 22nd Avenue, Box 300 Building C. Suite 101, Miami, Florida 33142-3009
TEL 305.636.2390 FAX 305.636.2391
WWW.theblackarchives.org baf@theblackarchives.org
THE BLACK ARCHIVES
History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc.
There are other historic black communities in cities across these United States like U Street in Washington, D.C., the
Greenwood neighborhood otherwise known as “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa, OK and even a location that wasn’t
historically black at its inception, Harlem, NY that have been able to hone in and develop a creative economy based
on what the area once was. The historic neighborhoods have been afforded the opportunity to build on their cultural
identity, which attracts tourist from all over, in turn helping to create a base economic support that strengthens and
empowers the residents of that area. Whereas, the City of Miami seems to seek, demolish, and erase structures that
could become key to revenue generation and the revitalization for a once prominent historically black area. When
the Community Redevelopment Agency was formed to erase slum and blight and the promise of jobs in Overtown
secured the building of the Miami Arena in the 1980’s, the only thing we have to show for it today in Overtown are
empty lots. When the Miami Arena was built the landmarks in Overtown were demolished and replaced with
parking lots. At what point do we deal with enough broken promises? The people deserve restored structures and
adaptive reusable spaces, not empty lots that match emptied promises. Buildings that probably would have been
visited year after year because of its’ cultural historic integrity are now gone. What is left? The Black Archives
History and Research Foundation of South FL, Inc. does not support the demolition of any structures along the
second avenue corridor, and we respectively request that we are made aware by the CRA and City of Miami when a
subject property is in question for demolition. We also request that any new development in the area first address
the footprint of the original buildings that were demolished in effort to restore the historic character of the
neighborhood. If you have any question or concerns please feel free to contact me at 305.636.2317. Thank you!
Cordially,
Timothy A. Barber
Executive Director
The Black Archives
History and Research
Foundation of South FL, Inc
Cc: Mayor Tomas Regalado
Carlos Migoya
Will Gort
Marc Sarnoff
Frank Carollo
Frances Suarez
Jim Villacorta
County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, District 3
Gwendolyn H. Welters
Garth Reeves
Dorothy Jenkins Fields
5400 N.W. 22nd Avenue, Box 300 Building C. Suite 101, Miami, Florida 33142-3009
TEL 305.636.2390 FAX 305.636.2391
WWW.theblackarchives.org baf@theblackarchives.org